Too long the world has been spared the cinematic genius of Vin Diesel. Not only is the man a pillar of method acting, poise and delivery, but he’s quite the auteur when it comes to franchises oh-so-close to his heart. His sweeping cinematography recalls Freddie Francis and his directorial habits find parallel only in the late Stanley Kubrick.

He understands directing like we understand sarcasm: IN AND OUT!

We’re guessing that his treatment for a Riddick movie featuring a Planet of the Apes-like twist at the end (“You blewed up the Earth!” was Riddick’s key line) didn’t make it through the suits, because Coming Soon reports Vin Diesel’s directorial effort will be a 20 minute Fast and the Furious prequel:

Vin Diesel, who stars in next Friday’s Babylon A.D., told ComingSoon.net today that he is directing a 20-minute prequel to Fast and Furious, the fourth installment in the Universal Pictures franchise.

Diesel will star in the prequel along with Michelle Rodriguez reprising her role as Letty and Sung Kang returning as Han. Diesel didn’t say how the prequel would premiere; it could be on a DVD, online, TV, etc.

The fourth movie is a sequel to the first installment, and though Diesel didn’t elaborate, we assume this 20-minute prequel will tie-in some of the events from the second and third movies. Rodriguez appeared in the first movie, Sung Kang in the third, and Diesel in the first with a brief cameo in the third.

God, we wish we could have been on the other end of that phone call.

Vin Diesel: “I don’t know how it’s comin’ out man, DVD, internet, television, it’s all up for grabs!”

Us: “Sir, I’m not going to ask again, is this for DELIVERY or PICK-UP?”

Vin Diesel: “What?”

Us: “Just fucking with you. But, seriously, what was with The Pacifier?”